Seth Rogen gives powerful Alzheimer's speech at Senate hearing

[<a href="//storify.com/cbccommunity/seth-rogen-gives-powerful-alzheimer-s-speech-at-se" target="_blank">View the story "Seth Rogen gives powerful Alzheimer's speech at Senate hearing" on Storify</a>]<h1>Seth Rogen gives powerful Alzheimer's speech at Senate hearing</h1><h2></h2><p>Storified by <a href="http://storify.com/cbccommunity">CBC News Community</a>&middot; Thu, Feb 27 2014 10:25:40</p><div>#HouseOfCardsSeason3 http://t.co/OYe2v6OG2GSeth Rogen</div><div>Canadian funnyman Seth Rogen is making waves across the web once again today, but not for any film, TV, or <a href="http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/11/Seth-Rogen-and-James-Franco-remake-Kanyes-Bound-2-video-minds-get-blown" class="">music video parody</a> hijinks.<br> <br>In an almost startlingly sober departure from his usual brand of goofball comedy, the B.C.-born actor took to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. yesterday to testify at a Senate hearing on Alzehiemer's research&nbsp;--&nbsp;and with the help of a few snappy jokes and some touching personal anecdotes, his message&nbsp;is being heard around the world.<br><br>"I came here today for a few reasons," Rogen told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services One yesterday. "I'm a huge&nbsp;House of Cards&nbsp;fan. Just marathoned the whole thing. Had to be here. Two is to say people need more help."<br><br>Rogen, who recently established the Alzheimer's research charity <a href="http://www.hilarityforcharity.org/" class="">Hilarity for Charity </a>with his wife Lauren, explained to Senators that his mother-in-law has been suffering from the disease for years.<br><br>"After forgetting who she and her loved ones were, she forgot how to speak, feed herself, dress herself, all by age of 60," he said, campaigning for legislation that would increase federal funding for Alzheimer's research.<br><br>"The situation is so dire, that it caused me, a lazy, self-involved, generally self-medicated man-child, to start an entire charity organization," he joked.<br></div><div>Seth Rogen Opening Statement (C-SPAN)cspan</div><div>While Rogen clearly brought his trademark sense of humour with him to Capitol Hill, the actor is dead serious about his intention to raise more funds for Alzheimer's treatment and research.<br><br>"Americans whisper the word Alzheimer's because their government whispers the word Alzheimer's," he said during his speech. "And although a whisper is better than the silence that the Alzheimer's community has been facing for decades, it's still not enough. It needs to be yelled and screamed to the point that it finally gets the attention and the funding that it deserves and needs."<br><br>More than 800,000 people have viewed Rogen's address on YouTube, but that's 16 senators short for the actor and activist. <br><br>Only two of the 18 Senators on the subcommittee reportedly stayed to hear Rogen speak, prompting him to lash out against the 16 members who didn't on Twitter.<br></div><div>Not sure why only two senators were at the hearing. Very symbolic of how the Government views Alzheimer's. Seems to be a low priority.Seth Rogen</div><div>All those empty seats are senators who are not prioritizing Alzheimer's. Unless more noise is made, it won't change. http://t.co/xDW6tlMHmHSeth Rogen</div><div>Rogen even responded directly to Senator Mark Kirk, who allegedly left the room before his speech&nbsp;--&nbsp;but not after stopping to snap a photo with the celebrity.<br></div><div>Thanks to @Sethrogen for speaking out about efforts to #ENDALZ. RT if you know someone affected by #Alzheimers. http://t.co/KTDIxPaMXUMark Kirk</div><div>.@SenatorKirk pleasure meeting you. Why did you leave before my speech? Just curious.Seth Rogen</div><div><b>What are your thoughts on Rogen's speech? Share them below.</b><br></div>

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